June 19, 2009

The Passion Has Died

Its been slow, gradually over time, but yesterday marked the end.

I walked into CVS and used my last $2 in extra care bucks to by household necessities that would give me no more ECBs back in return. Just a straight transaction. $0.88 cereal and two boxes of $0.87 tissues.

Beyond yesterday, I haven't been in a CVS store or a Walgreens in about a month or so. The proof of which is the $3 in ECBs I had to throw away yesterday because they were expired.

When I first started playing the drug store game, I thought it was great fun. I'd bring home my purchases and make Jay guess how much I'd paid for the merchandise in front of him. Sorta like an at home Price Is Right.

You know you have an addiction when you have a room in your house named after your passion. Please meet my CVS closet.



The closet extends about 6 inches on either side of the door frame, so the picture is missing a row of tampons, a row of Mr. Clean wipes below that...etc.

So when the CVS deals started to go south, I justified my lack of shopping. Who wants to pay $0.50 for a tube of toothpaste when you've got at least 10 tubes at home that you got for free?

Then Walgreens discontinued their EasySaver program. I played their "Register Rewards" game for a week before decided that it was just too much effort and typically I still had to spend some money out of pocket.

So now its back to just Krogering for me. I'm still gonna clip coupons (my Kroger doubles coupons $0.50 or less so i get stuff for free there too) and keep and eye on the sale ads.

But for now, I'm in retirement.

Funny thing happened this morning. I finished the bottle of shampoo I have in the shower, restocked with a new one and discovered beyond that I only have one more bottle in the closet. Guess I'm gonna have to keep my eyes peeled for a good deal on shampoo. Even if I have to pay for it.

14 comments:

  1. That's quite a closet! You may have to buy a few things but it looks like you are stocked for a while!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow you have a great stock pile! I agree that CVS hasn't been that great lately. I've been slacking on playing the CVS game too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow! That is one stocked closet. My in-laws do that in the basement. You think they were getting ready for WWIII!

    A while ago I was also into playing the "Lets see how much money I can save" game. But lately I have been kind of lazy looking thru coupons:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is quite the stockpile. I go thru phases where I'm excited about getting things for almost free. It is a fun game.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow. That's all I have to say. LOL The fact that you put in effort to get free things is GREAT. I'm just not that organized to figure out the system. We're always out of everything....as I type, I'm creating a list of things I'll have to buy this weekend. Happy Friday! I'm popping over from SITS roll call.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's a good pile you have right there. Compared to none, such as in my case. : (

    ReplyDelete
  7. Holy cow I thought it was an urban myth! haha Stopping by from SITS!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I never got the courage and energy to do the CVS thing. Your stockpile is impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, you've done a great job. I think you deserve some down time. Searching for bargains is hard work!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've really slowed waaay done too! My big thing is now when Kmart (next town over) doubles coupons up to $2, I'll head on over. I still match coupons + sale prices for groceries but the drug store game is dying. BUT I did see that Rite Aid has some decent stuff this week, so I might head on over!
    ~ Katie

    ReplyDelete
  11. I clip coupons and I have to admit that I hate clipping them. I am jealous of your "stocked" closet, can I come shopping at your house???

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm proud of you for staying with it for so long! I've just found it too hard to do with a 2yo and cashiers who insist I shouldn't get something for nothing - maybe I could fight the case with them, but it's just too much work.

    ReplyDelete
  13. i love it! yes, an entire closet dedicated to cvs is indeed true dedication!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I understand the saga! I've been in a lull too shopping CVS and Walgreens.. just not happening like it used to. One of these weeks I hope they surprise us with some deals worth stopping in for!

    ReplyDelete

what up yo?